Canada’s Sole Arctic Port Poised for Year-Round Shipping Under New Agreement

Arctic Gateway Group and Fednav Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore establishing year-round shipping operations through Canada’s only Arctic seaport, the Port of Churchill in Manitoba.

The collaboration aims to leverage Fednav’s extensive Arctic marine experience alongside AGG’s established trade infrastructure to create a sustainable 12-month shipping season, potentially transforming Canada’s northern trade capabilities.

“This partnership could be a game-changer for the Port of Churchill and Canada’s Arctic trade ambitions,” said Chris Avery, CEO of Arctic Gateway Group. “Fednav’s long-standing leadership in marine operations complements our commitment to strengthening Churchill’s already established position as a northern trade gateway.”

The agreement sets the stage for exploring expanded trade infrastructure at Churchill, with both organizations forming a joint working group focused on innovation, commercial sustainability, and Indigenous economic reconciliation.

“We see tremendous potential in combining our marine and logistics expertise with AGG’s unique ownership model and regional leadership, further establishing Churchill as the key to unlock sustainable growth in the North,” said Paul Pathy, Fednav’s President and CEO.

Arctic Gateway Group has already been scaling up operations, having tripled critical mineral storage capacity at the port and increased freight volumes along the Hudson Bay Railway.

“The need for reliable, year-round shipping through Hudson Bay has never been greater,” added Avery. “A sustained Arctic shipping route would provide Western Canada’s vast resource sectors, including energy, agriculture, and critical minerals, with consistent access to global markets.”

Fednav, Canada’s largest international dry bulk shipping company, operates approximately 120 vessels and delivers over 30 million tonnes of cargo annually. The company brings significant Arctic and Great Lakes navigation expertise to the partnership.

The Arctic Gateway Group is an Indigenous- and community-owned Manitoba company that operates both the Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway connecting The Pas to Churchill.

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